Improved fire-escape ladder



die# 5525.57;

DLPETERS, PHUTO-LITNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

4 J J, timber frame of platform.

in iig. 6.

tit-ted lit.

CARL WEIDLING', orNEw YORK., N. Y.

A Lette/rs Patent No. 90,975, dated June 8, 1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom. it may concern Beit known that LCARL WEIDLING, of the city of New York, in the county and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements on the Machine known as an Improved Fire-Escape, which was duly patented, and for which Letters Patent were granted, .and issued by the Government 'of the United States of America, under the seal thereof, to Carl Weidling, Alexander Lieder, and Charles Kunkel, assignees of myself, the said CARL WEIDLING, on the 30th day of July, 1867, `(Letters Patent, No. 67,239 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings,` making a part of this specilication, in which- Figure 1 represents Vthe horizontal and side view of wagon, the former showing the iron ring (colored blue) which allowsthe fore part of truck to turn at right angles, to facilitate transportation when in actual operation in and out of and around the corners of narrow streets.

, A B, a reach, fastened at A, but moving freely right and left, at B, in the hind axle for that purpose.

D, wooden frame of truck.

E E E E are iburlevelling-screws, to adjust the new turning-table, g. 2, to a level, when the wagon is on uneven or .broken ground.

F, chain and hook," to be attached to a hand-screw,

and hook, R, g. 3, when apparatus is fnllyextended, to bind the platform more securely to the wagon. y Figure 2 represents the turning-table-horizontal and sectional view. The turning-table rests on the wagon, 4by means of which the platform, iig. 3, and the ladders, when extended, can be moved on the iron circles `to face in any direction, without moving the wagon.

Figure 3 represents the platform and triangle, to which the ladders are attached.

G G Gr G are hinged joints, lsecured by bolts or springs.

H H are folding extension-arms, with the adjustingscrews a a a, a, which reach the ground to make the whole apparatus steady when in use. (See fig. 7.)

I I, timber frame of triangle. y

K, spring-hook, to hold secure all hinged joints instead of bolts.

Figure 4 represents the front view of the triangle.

M N N O O K K, windlass, audits machinery.

P, roller, over which the hoisting-ropes Q Q move. Said ropes or chains being fastened near the top of the lower ladder, also attached to the end lever Z, (see lig. 6,) the other end tc the windlass M, serve to bring the ladders from a horizontal position to the position shown Figure 5, side view of triangle and lever Z.

S,v brace of wood. T, folding brace. V, hinge, secured by bolt or spring in rear.

Instead of folding brace, a straight brace, secured vby iron at top, can be used, fastened at lower end by a' spring on the platform J J.

X, iron cradle, wherein moves, and which secures the movable lever Z to platform J.

Figure 6 represents side view of apparatus, showing the ladders elevated by means of ropes or chains Q, Q, and lever Z and wndlass M on triangle.

A is an iron cradle, which secures an iron axle, on which thel ladders and the folding brace T are secured.

, E-is a movable prop or support, attached to the upper part of lower ladder by a drop-bolt, and the lower end resting on the ground, when apparatus is in use. Y g'visa check-rope or chain, secured to the top of lower ladder and to platform, to prevent the ladders being forcedbackward out of the perpendicular by rope Q. y l Y f is-an iron fastening, whereto is attached the reach of rear wheels when being moved from place to place, in use or in transportation.

S', hinge, on upper ladder, t9 allow same, when elevated, to form a bridge.

fN, hand-rope, by which upper ladder is elevated, when required.

O', spring-hook, to fasten to rngrP, to retain ladder in position when elevated. v

R, hinged beam, with hand-screw and hook, to secure platform more e'lfectually to wagon, iii connection withthe chain and hook F. (See iig. 1.)

Figure 7 represents front view of apparatus, partly extended.

d d are wooden props, permanently fastened to lower ladder by rings e c, and secured, when apparatus isin use, to the end of folding arms H H, in cradles b l), by movable pins, c c.

F, windlass and gearing, placed on and at the bottom of' lower ladder, to which ropes or chainsL L, are attached, passing over a roller at the top of lower ladder, and fastened to the bottom of second ladder.

M M, ropes or chains, fastened-at the tbp of lower ladder, passing over a'roller at the top of second ladder, and secured to the foot of third ladder, by means of which ropes, so fastened, and the operation of the windlass F, the three ladders rise simultaneously.

Figure 8 represents the ladders and props, detached from platform. Figure 9 represents a cross-section of the ladders through -line'A B of lig. 8.

Figure 10 represents a cross-section of the ladder through line G D of Iig. 8.

The ladders consist of several distinct parts, a b c d, the side pieces 'of which are grooved, so that one slides in the other. A

Figure` 11 represents the apparatus folded upin form, are placed rollers,

in use, with the fourth ladder zor bridge bent at hinge T, whereby the same may be fastened to thev roof in Windows of a building.

Q are two iron bars, fastened on each side of the third ladder, Vand outside thereof, and raised or lowered by the chain R, by hand, to give additional strength to the apparatus when leaning against a building.

In the upper part of third ladder' are placed two iron rollers, U, at right angles, on which a rope, V, works, to which is attached a large canvas bag, W, for the purposeiof saving persons or property, which may be placed therein and lowered to the street.

X is a rope, placed at the bottom of said sack, to direct its descent.

Z isa hose and pipe, which can be fastened to and raised with ladders. i

The apparatus is constructed of wood and iron, and is self-supporting, when extended to its full height.

l Each of the said windlasses is connected with cranks, gearing-wheels, and ratchets, so that they may be turned or stopped at pleasure. The whole' apparatus may be turned to any required direction on the turntable.

When the. apparatus is in the position shown' by fig. 6, and the windlass is turned to the right, the ladders will simultaneously slide upward, until the whole apparatus is elevated to its greatest height, as shown in iig. 12. When in that position they may be lowered down again by turning the windlassifto the left, when all the parts will slide downward.

To make the apparatus ready for transportation, reverse the windlass in the triangle, having first placed the rear wheel in position, lifting the props E E' from the ground, and the ladders will assume a horizontal position, resting on said rear wheels. Then detach the props E E, and place them under the ladders. Take out the pins from the ends ofthe props d Ll, and lay them side ofladders. Unfasten the bolts or springs of the arm H H, sonarned in g. 6, and lay them over the ladders. Then withdraw the bolts or springs on triangle and jointed brace, and by rneansof windlass on triangle, turn the said triangle over. on ladders also, as'secn in iig. 11. To elevate, reverse the above.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to lsecure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with' the s'aid ladder and turntable, of adj listing-screws, by means of which the ele vating-frame, to whichthe ladder is attached, may be levelled, and rmly supported, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

CARL WEI'DLING. 

